Onion-topping machine



A. CIHAK, JR.

ONION TOPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26, I920.

1,368,487. Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

3 mmmtoz UNITED STA'ELES PATENT QFFECE.

ONION-TOPPING MACHINE.

Application fil ed August 26, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTON CIHAK, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Shelbyville, in the county of Allegan and State of Michigan, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Qnion- Topping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 1n onion topping machines, and its objects are: first, to provide a means whereby the quantity of work done with the machines now on the market may be greatly increased; second, to provide a means whereby the quality of work will be greatly enhanced, and, third, to provide a means whereby the machine may be set to accommodate the topping of either large onions, or small onions, as desired.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective of an ordinary onion topping machine, minus the driving mechanism which I do not deem it necessary to show in this connection, as it forms no part of my invention. Fig. 2 1s a s de elevation of the upper part of said machine with my improvement in place. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same with the feed tray and the discharge chute removed. Fig. i is an edge elevation of my improvement detached from the machine, and, Fig. 5 is a bottom plan of the same.

Similar numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents the upper part of an ordinary onion topping machine, 2 beingthe gutter partitions, 3 the toppingrollers, 4 the knives by means of which the tops are removed from the onion. 5 is the discharge chute. and 6 is the feed bin, or bin into which the onions are stored above the topping rollers and knives. All this is old, and in common use in ma chines of this class, as is. also, a means for driving the rollers for topping the onions, hence no showing or description of the power elements is herewith given.

My invention consists in producing a means for holding the onions and onion tops pliably in the gutters over the topping rollers and knives. For this purpose I make use, first, of a sheet metal, or thin wood cover, '7, upon the under side of which I place a pliable pressure element made of tarred paper, rubher, or other equally P1131316 material, as

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 406,128.

shown at 9, one end of each of which is securely connected with the cover, as at 12 while the other end is allowed to sap down wardly from the cover, forming a bow, and is provided with one or more pliable thongs, as 10, that are passed through openings 11 in the cover through which they fit very closelv so that the pressure elements 9 may be held 111 desired positions by friction between the thongs and the edges oi the cover adjacent to the openings 11.

As it necessary to support these elements of my lnvention higher above the topping rollers than would be possible if the cover rested upon the partitions 2, I use auxiliary partltions 8 which are securely mounted upon the upper edges of the regular partitions, and secure the cover upon the upper edges or the auxiliary partitions, as indicated in F1gs. 2 and 3.

Wlth all machines of this class the rollers 3 are presumed to revolve in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 1 and 3, and the longitudinal incline of the knives 4 causes the onlons to be moved, gradually, from the receiving, or feed bin, toward the discharge chute, which action is not interfered with by use of my invention, but on the contrary, is so far facilitated as to increase the eiliclency or" the machine, both as to quantity and quality of work an hundred to an hundred and fifty per cent, cutting the tops much closer to the onions, insuring the cutting of all of the tops from the onions, and at the same time removing much more of the dirt that naturally clings to the onions, leaving them much cleaner and better prepared for marketing.

It will be noticed that my pressure elements extend well down between the gutter partitions 8, 2', and that their relative position may be regulated to meet the demands of the particular onions being treated, by simply adjusting the thongs 9, as hereinbefore stated,

It is understood that there are several different constructions of onion topping machines, some using the longitudinal rollers and knives shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and some of other constructions. I find that my attachment is equally effective upon all stock machines in the market, and, further, that it may be used for a diversity of purposes besides onion topping, as for instance, in the topping of small round beets, and other vegetables;

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new in the art, is:

1. In combination with an onion topping machine having longitudinally positioned, revolving rollers and inclined knives there on; a cap placed over said rollers and'having pliable pressure elements extending downwardly therefrom.

2. In combination with an onion topping machine having partitions thereon forming gutters, revoluble rollers and angularly positioned knives upon said rollers, auxiliary partitions mounted upon the gutter partitions, a cover secured to the upper surfaces of said auxiliary partitions, flexible pressure elements secured at one end to the cover and the other ends bagging down- Wardly therefrom, and means whereby the bagging ends may be adjusted vertically.

3. In combination Withan onion topping machine having partitions arranged to form several longitudinally positioned gutters, and revolnble angularly positioned knives located in said gutters; auxiliary partitions mounted upon the gutter partitions, a cover secured to the upper surfaces of the auxiliary partitions, flexible pressure elements secured at one end to the cover and the other ends bagging below the cover between the partitions, the cover having several openings adjacent to the bagging ends of the pressure elements, and thongs connected with the bagging ends of thepressure elements and'passed through the openings in the cover to regulate the positions of the pressure elements.

Signed at Shelbyville, Michigan, August 23, 1920.

' ANTON GIHAK, as 

